This a list of essential but NOT gamechanging mods, that are very unlikely to cause crashes, fps issues or any form of problems, nor do they change the game drastically. Oblivion is a fantastic game and if you're new to it, you should play through once without any game changing mods, these mods keep the game in it's default state while massively increasing the quality of life and fix the horrible design decisions that Bethesda made. Everything here is easy to install and requires no prior experience at modding.

10. Oblivion Script Extender - http://obse.silverlock.org/

If you're going to run any mods, it is recommended to use this as alot of them require it and some mods will cause the game to fail upon launch if OBSE is not present.

9. Oblivion Mod Manager - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/2097/

A very easy program to get to grips with and makes installing and managing mods a breeze to do. Look through Google to find a quick start guide if you have troubles. DO NOT use Nexus Mod Manager for Oblivion. It cannot read mods that are created for Oblivion Mod Manager properly and can cause them to install incorrectly. While it is a pain to have multiple mod managers for the Nexus, until the team there fix their manager, it is not worth using it for Oblivion, Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas. Only use it for Skyrim and other games that were added to the Nexus website AFTER the Mod Manager was created.

8. Really Textured Normal Maps - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/38204/

While this is not quite as HD as Qarls nor does it retexture *everything*, it is small, easy to download and install. RTNM is 75% smaller in file size and has no noticeable performance impact over the Vanilla textures and makes the game look considerably less dated.

7. FOV Modifier - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/23080/

Very easy to install and use, if you manually edit the FOV in the config it will cause the UI to glitch out and the mouse to perform in strange ways on the menus. Once installed, the mod automatically changes your FOV to 90 at all times, while keeping the default 75 FOV for the menus, to stop them going crazy. You can manually increase the FOV to 110 in game, whatever setting you change is permanent. If you try to change the FOV only using vanilla console commands, the FOV resets upon entering 3rd person or mounting a horse.

6. A Takes All - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/27638/

This mod is very simple, it adds a function to the A key that allows you to 'loot all' quickly. By default you can do this but you have to manually move the mouse and click the option, with this mod, it makes it much quicker. A simple mod that drastically improves the quality of life in Oblivion.

5. Quick Selling - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/12859/

A mod that is similar to A Takes All, this one makes buying and selling much faster, allowing for CTRL + click to sell items one at a time with a way to skip all annoying clicking in the barter menu.

4. Character Overhaul - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/44676/

This mod is not as heavy or game changing as it sounds, it simply makes NPCS look ALOT better, as by default the majority of the characters in the games faces, including yours, look hideous, bloated and round.

3. Blockhead - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/43752/

This mod is essential for Character Overhaul and generally fixes alot of texture issues you may run into if you decide to take your modding further.

2. Unofficial Oblivion Patch - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/5296/

Exactly what it says on the tin. Fixes a ton of quest bugs in the game and general glitches, and also adds an item to the game you can use to reset bugs like the Vampire face glitch and broken stats (permanently damaged stats from diseases or from the game miscalculating level ups). Get it.

1. DarNified UI - http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/10763/

This mod, along with the Unofficial Patch should be patched into and included in the Vanilla game by Bethesda, they are both utterly essential on PC and playing without them isn't choice as much as it is self torture. If you take something from this guide, let it be these two.

I do not own, and I did not create any of the game modifications included in this guide. I do not condone or encourage using them for any purpose other than how they were specifically intended to be used by the content creators.

Credit

Oblivion Script Extender - Ian Patterson (ianpatt), Stephen Abel (behippo), Paul Connelly (scruggsywuggsy the ferret), Timeslip, The J, DragoonWraith, SkyRanger-1, shadeMe, kyoma

Oblivion Mod Manager - Timeslip

RTNM - Jarod

FOV Modifier - TroyBayliss

A To Take All - Statttis

Quick Selling - Waruddar and kea

Character Overhaul - Nuska

Blockhead - shadeMe

Unofficial Oblivion Patch - Quarn, Kivan, Arthmoor and PrinceShroob

DarNified UI - DarN

Everybody at the Nexus for their hard work and continued support of the modding community.

Peace out.